Are You Doing These Things?

When Bible authority is taught, some may argue, “there are many things you do that

aren’t in the Bible”

Church building, song books, communion trays, multiple cups, A/C or heat, Bible classes,

bulletins, tracts, PowerPoint, website, etc.

We also drive in cars and fly in airplanes that aren’t mentioned in the Bible.

“How can you condemn others, when you don’t have Bible authority for what you teach

either?”

It is right to question what is taught. (1 John 4:1)

The Chief Priests and Elders Questioned Jesus

They asked him, “"By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell

Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. "The baptism of John was

from what source, from heaven or from men?" And they began reasoning among

themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?‘ (Matt. 21:23-25)

Authority Either Comes from Two Sources- Heaven or Men

Therefore we must give book, chapter, and Therefore we must give book, chapter, and verse for what we believe, teach, and verse for what we believe, teach, and

practice. practice. (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)(Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)

We must abide in the doctrine of Christ or We must abide in the doctrine of Christ or we don’t have God’s approval. we don’t have God’s approval. (2 John (2 John

1:9) 1:9)

If we add to or take away from the word of If we add to or take away from the word of God or preach another gospel we will be God or preach another gospel we will be condemned. condemned. (Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)(Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)

Listeners Have a Responsibility to Examine the Scriptures and

Apply ItThe Bereans…. “received the word with

great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from abstain from

every form of evil.” every form of evil.” ((1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

So study to show yourselves approved to God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

How to Establish Bible Authority

Direct Command or Statement of God (Matthew 28:18-20)

Divinely Approved Examples (1 Timothy 3:15)

Necessary Inference (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:24)

Since the church is subject to Christ, the Wonsley Dr. church of Christ desires to obey everything the Lord commanded including divinely approved examples.

General Authority includes Expedients

General- “of or pertaining to all persons or things belonging in a category…not limited to one class…not specific.”

(Random House Dict.)

Expedient- “useful for effecting a desired result; suited to the

circumstances or the occasion; advantageous, convenient” (ibid)

It must be lawful before we can call it an expedient. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Specific Authority Excludes any Substitution

Specific- “having a specific application, bearing or reference…specified,

precise, or particular… concerning specifically with the item or subject named” (Random House

Dictionary) (Examples- Will, deed, or license)

Excludes- “to keep or shut out; bar…to omit from notice or consideration.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

General Authority includes Expediency

General Command Includes Expediency

God Told Noah-“Make…an ark” (Genesis 6:14)

The Bible doesn’t The Bible doesn’t tell us how he did tell us how he did it, but it does say it, but it does say that he obeyed that he obeyed God. God. (Genesis

Therefore any tool or Therefore any tool or equipment necessary equipment necessary

that would that would advantageous to advantageous to

accomplish the goal accomplish the goal would be permitted by would be permitted by

God. God.

Specific Command Excludes Substitution

Specific Command Excludes substitution

(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)

Raft, sailboat, rowboat

“…of gopher wood”

Oak, pine, cedar

Length- 300 cubits Width- 50 cubits

Height- 30 cubits3 Decks, Door &

Window(Genesis 6:16-17)

Oak, pine, cedar

Length- 300 cubits Width- 50 cubits

Height- 30 cubits3 Decks, Door &

Window(Genesis 6:16-17)

Noah could not decide to change the length, width or height, # of

decks, door, and window or he would

have disobeyed God.

Jesus’ Great Commission

“Go” (Matthew 28:19)

Jesus did not tell them how they had to go, they just had to go.

Whether you drive, walk or ride (whether in a car, on a bicycle, in an airplane, on a ship, or on an animal), you have obeyed the command to

When you go any of these ways, you are doing what the Lord said even though cars and airplanes weren’t around in the 1st century.

General Authority Excludes Binding One Way over Another

But you cannot bind one way over another or you

would be guilty of binding where God has

not bound. (Matthew 16:19)

“Teach” (Matthew 28:19)

Arrangements:Sermon, Bible

classes (saints & children at a

building), group, individual, radio,

Methods: Printed materials

(newspaper, tracts, bulletins,

charts, etc.)Home Bible Study

Website- the internet

CD, DVD, VideotapeOverhead projector

When you use any or all of these arrangements or

methods all you have done is teach with them in order

to obey the Lord’s command.

Specific Authority Excludes Substitution

(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”

(Mark 16:15)

Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)

Galatians 1:8-9

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any

man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to

be accursed!”

(Mark 16:15)

Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)Law of Moses

(Acts 15)

Acts 15:1,24

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the

custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”….

"Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction

have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls”

(Mark 16:15)

Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)Law of Moses

(Acts 15)Men’s Traditions,

Creeds, Philosophies

(Colossians 2:8-10)

Colossians 2:8-10

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty

deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than

according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all

rule and authority”

(Mark 16:15)

Men’s Traditions, Creeds,

Philosophies (Colossians 2:8-

10)“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16)

(Mark 16:15)

Men’s Traditions, Creeds,

Philosophies (Colossians 2:8-

10)“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16)

Believing onlyPraying sinner’s

prayer

Assemble“not forsaking the

assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some” (Hebrews

10:25)

Place:Private house,

school, riverside, rented hall, own a

building, government facility, etc.

10:25)

Since we must meet somewhere, we can choose an expedient place to

meet (in an environment conducive to

learn- A/C or heat). (John 4:21,

John 4:21,23

JJesus *said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in

this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such

people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

Specific Authority excludes Substitution

(Not authorized)Worship in spirit

(John 4:24)

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those

who worship Him must worship in spirit and

truth."

(Not authorized)Worship in spirit

(John 4:24)

The church gathered together

to engage in spiritual matters.

(Not authorized)Worship (John

4:24)(Prayer, Lord’s

Supper, Preaching, Singing, Giving)

(Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Co. 16:2; Co.

Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to

fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 20:7

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered

together to break bread, Paul began talking to them,

intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the

churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put

aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections

be made when I come.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom

teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to

(Not authorized)Prayer

Lord’s Supper Preaching Singing Giving

Not for these purposes:

Entertainment (jokes, choir,

concert)

concert) Eating

(Kitchen/Fellowship hall)

concert) Eating

(Kitchen/Fellowship hall)

Recreation (Gymnasium/Family

Life Center)

SING “Singing and

making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph.

Ephesians 5:19

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”

SING “Singing and

Song leader

SING “Singing and

Song leaderSong books

SING “Singing and

Song leaderSong books

Four part harmony

(Not authorized)SING

“Singing and making melody in your heart

to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)

There are 9 passages in the NT that

mention singing in worship but none mention playing.

Playing on an instrument is not authorized by the Lord because the making melody is specified by the

heart.

Therefore the specific command

of singing and making melody in your heart would exclude a piano, guitar, drums,

harp, tambourine, etc.

Lord’s Supper“First Day of the

Week” (Acts 20:7)

Lord’s Supper“First Day of the

Week” (Acts 20:7)

Day or Night, any of 24 hours

Whether you do it Sunday morning,

afternoon, or night you have obeyed the command.

Cup- “Fruit of the Vine”

“Do this in remembrance of

Me”(Matthew 26:27-29)

Cup- “Fruit of the Vine”

“Do this in remembrance of

Me”(Matthew 26:27-29)

Single or Multiple Containers

Whether you take it with one container or many you would have obeyed the

command to drink the fruit of the vine.

(Not authorized)Lord’s Supper

“First Day of the Week” (Acts 20:7)

(Not authorized)Lord’s Supper

“First Day of the Week” (Acts 20:7)

Any other day of the week.

Once/month Once or twice a

yearAny other drink

“Baptize” (Matthew 28:20)

Place:Baptistery, Ocean,

River, Lake, Bathtub, Pool, etc.

Place: Baptistery, Ocean, River, Lake, Bathtub,

Pool, etc.

Therefore the church can have a baptistery but it

isn’t the only place you can baptize.

(Not authorized)Be Baptized and Wash Away Your

sins“Arise & be

baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the

name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)

(Not authorized)Be Baptized and Wash Away Your

sins“Arise & be

baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the

name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)

Being baptized because your sins

were already forgiven or as an

outward sign of an inward grace

ConclusionConclusionWe believe that we have book, chapter, We believe that we have book, chapter,

and verse for what we believe, teach, and verse for what we believe, teach, and practice based on the Bible. and practice based on the Bible. (Col.

If we do not, please bring it to our If we do not, please bring it to our attention, and we promise we will study attention, and we promise we will study and change if proven to be wrong from and change if proven to be wrong from

the Scriptures.the Scriptures.

If you realize that your life is not in If you realize that your life is not in accordance with God’s will, please obey accordance with God’s will, please obey

the gospel before it is too late! the gospel before it is too late!

Matthew 7:21-23"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,

Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of

My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that

day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast

out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO

PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.‘”

Are You Doing These Things?

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